As a new business owner, Franky's has been issuing lots of mailers and coupons to draw people to the restaurant.

"People come in, and in the next three or four days they come back bringing their friends," said Joe, who was featured with Maria recently on "Great Day Houston" after one of the show producers ate at the restaurant.

Currently, Joe and Maria employ about 10-12 employees. "For probably half of them, this is the first job they ever had," Joe said. "Some of their parents have come in to thank us."

Joe has kept the cart aspect of the business alive. He still operates hot dogs at the outlet mall, and had a cart at the Fourth of July celebration at The Cynthia Woods Pavilion in The Woodlands and at the Freedom Over Texas event in Houston.

"The carts are how we introduce ourselves to people," Joe said. "We've been getting lots of requests to do local events."

A little earlier this summer, Franky's Gourmet Hot Dogs had a cart at a community event hosted by the Katy-area Sam's Club at 20424 Katy Freeway. Franky's raised $3,965 for Children's Miracle Network, contributing to a total of $8,300 raised at the event.

"It was great to have them help us," Sam's Club co-manager Eric Sweet said. "We raised money for an important cause and helped raise awareness for a small business.

"Joe had great hot dogs and got a lot of compliments."

It's been exciting, Joe and Maria said, to see Franky's grow in popularity and to be in the final stages of franchising their business.

"By the end of the summer, we hope to have 30 or 50 of these stores open," Joe said, noting that he and Maria will continue to operate their first Katy restaurant.

Joe added that Maria has played an integral role in what they've been able to accomplish with Franky's. They met when Joe was selling hot dogs from his outlet mall location. "I was out there selling hot dogs in the hot sun. She encouraged me to grow the business."

Joe and Maria, married three years now, have a blended family. Their children at home range in age from 8 to 17.

Joe also has a 22-year-old son, Jake Moore, who manages the Houston Premium Outlets hot dog stand, and Maria has a 23-year-old daughter, Grecia, attending college in Mexico.

The couple continues to work as a team to map out their business' future. "When we leave the house, we think about what our goals are," Maria said. "I enjoy our life every day, working with my husband and for our family."